Dave Hill on London + Veronica Wadley | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/davehillblog+media/veronica-wadley
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Boris Johnson's new volunteering chief volunteers littlehttps://www.theguardian.com/media/davehillblog/2012/oct/25/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-london-assembly
Former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley seemed not to warm to her first experience of scrutiny by the London Assembly<p>Winter arrived early in City Hall on Wednesday when Veronica Wadley, one of the more helpful of Boris Johnson's many media chums down the years, made acquaintance with public accountability in the form of questions from London assembly members. Wadley edited the Evening Standard throughout the 2008 mayoral election campaign that propelled Johnson to power. It was the most <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/03/localgovernment.london08">absurdly partisan</a> manifestation of that newspaper ever, and its legacy was such that after a new owner brought the Wadley era to an end, one of her successor Geordie Greig's first moves was to launch an advertising campaign <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2009/may/04/london-evening-standard-alexander-lebedev">apologising</a> for it. </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/davehillblog/2012/oct/25/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-london-assembly">Continue reading...</a>Veronica WadleyMediaPoliticsBoris JohnsonLondon politicsLondonLondon Evening StandardThu, 25 Oct 2012 13:19:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/media/davehillblog/2012/oct/25/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-london-assemblyDave Hill2012-10-25T13:19:00ZOlympic diary: five outline legacy goalshttps://www.theguardian.com/society/davehillblog/2012/aug/14/regeneration-goals-olympics-london
What should London's games legacy objectives be and how might they be secured?<p>By contrast with Monday's richly confident "<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2012/aug/13/five-things-to-love-about-london-olympics">five things I've loved</a>" about London 2012, here's an intermittently diffident quintet of broad objectives for that elusive concept known as "legacy." Let's dignify it as an early draft. </p><p>BBC 5 Live's Mark Chapman has more than once expressed his dislike for the "legacy" word these past few days, and if his reason is that its meaning is slippery to the point of treachery I sympathise. That said, we have been faithfully promised that good stuff will flow from that nine billion quid investment, and keep flowing for generations to come. What will the good stuff look like? How will it be supplied? Mostly importantly, who will gain? </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/davehillblog/2012/aug/14/regeneration-goals-olympics-london">Continue reading...</a>SocietyRegenerationOlympic Games 2012PoliticsLocal governmentBoris JohnsonMediaLocal politicsVeronica WadleyLondonOlympic GamesTue, 14 Aug 2012 12:25:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/davehillblog/2012/aug/14/regeneration-goals-olympics-londonPhotograph: Ian Walton/Getty ImagesA packed Olympic stadium as Super Saturday heads towards it's climax. Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Ian Walton/Getty ImagesA packed Olympic stadium as Super Saturday heads towards it's climax. Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty ImagesDave Hill2012-08-14T12:25:00ZBoris Johnson: his media free lunches in fullhttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/davehillblog/2011/jul/10/boris-johnson-media-hospitality-declarations
<p>On Friday's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgvj">Any Questions</a> Ken Livingstone informed Radio 4 listeners that Boris Johnson had attended a <a href="http://www.newsinternational.co.uk/">News International</a> board meeting on 16 June. This told us a number of things. One is that Team Ken follows me on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/DaveHill">Twitter</a>, which is where a couple of hours earlier I'd brought that information to a slightly wider public than reads to the bottom of Boris's monthly <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=4471">Mayor's reports</a> (see the third item from the bottom of the penultimate page, under the heading Key Engagements). </p><p>Another is that Boris's making public his attendance at said board meeting of the then owners of the now deceased News of The World could be said to reflect well on him, given that he came to power pledging that his administration would be open and transparent. A third thing is that his attendance appears to underline how friendly are the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davehillblog/2011/jul/07/boris-johnson-friend-of-rupert-murdoch-newspapers">links between Boris and the Murdoch empire</a>. <a href="http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2011/07/05/you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-mayor-by-the-company-he-keeps/#comments">Boris Watch</a> has highlighted - quoting Boris's own <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/pls/apex/f?p=135:2:3608368922765295::::P2_MEMBER_FILTER:63">gifts and hospitality declarations</a>, it should be said - his history of being wined and dined by the most senior Murdoch bosses since becoming Mayor, including by King Rupert himself.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/davehillblog/2011/jul/10/boris-johnson-media-hospitality-declarations">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonPoliticsLondon politicsLondonMediaRebekah BrooksRupert MurdochPaul DacreRichard DesmondVeronica WadleyLondon Evening StandardJames MurdochSun, 10 Jul 2011 19:39:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/davehillblog/2011/jul/10/boris-johnson-media-hospitality-declarationsDave Hill2011-07-10T19:39:00ZKen Livingstone in the Evening Standard: an error and an odd omissionhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jul/13/livingstone-london-evening-standard
<p>The Standard's editor Geordie Greig has <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23855591-ken-livingstone-i-was-a-weedy-kid-but-like-boris-i-survived-on-my-wits.do">been to see the former Mayor and met his snakes</a>, a further indication that the days of the nasty old <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/03/localgovernment.london08">Evening Boris</a> are gone. Greig's achievement in salvaging the paper after its ruinous Daily Mail period has been recognised in his inclusion in the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/13/geordie-greig-mediaguardian-100-2010">MediaGuardian100</a> though I'll bet not all the panellists approved. You can read more about other recent activities of the one I have in mind - go to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediaguardian-100-2010/judges">the bottom of the list</a> - <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/02/boris-johnson-wadley-arts-council">here</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/09/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-open-letter-david-cameron-nick-clegg">here</a> and in lots of places <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/veronica-wadley">here</a>. </p><p>Greig's piece on Ken is interesting in several ways. Try this passage:</p><p>Livingstone has beside his bed Who's Who of Ancient Rome. In fact, he seems to relish entering classical territory, sort of stealing Boris's togas. He likes the Gracchi brothers, Rome's second-century Kennedy brothers. "They were populists who changed the law, in effect nationalising the land. The oldest brother was stabbed to death and then the younger came back with his own policies and was killed in a mob fight," he says.</p><p>The 2012 election will be a gladiatorial Left versus Right contest, two witty, wily politicians, who make their leaders nervous because they are among the biggest names in their parties. In preparation Livingstone has Andrew Gimson's biography of Boris. "What I noticed was that somewhere early on Boris realised he could get away with murder, and does. I can't do that. With me everyone is waiting to pounce, with him they laugh.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jul/13/livingstone-london-evening-standard">Continue reading...</a>Ken LivingstoneLondon Evening StandardLondonLondon politicsVeronica WadleyMediaGeordie GreigBoris JohnsonTue, 13 Jul 2010 13:11:23 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jul/13/livingstone-london-evening-standardDave Hill2010-07-13T13:11:23ZVeronica Wadley and Boris Johnson: where will it end?https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/25/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-cronyism-row-international-audience
<p>I'd like to announce that in small yet deeply gratifying way, the never-ending tale of Veronica Wadley's installation in the London Arts Council chair has found an international audience. Here's an item from the impressive <a href="http://www.artnet.com/about/aboutindex.asp?F=1">US-German</a> (I think) <a href="http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/news/artnetnews/tombstone-for-beauford-delaney6-10-10.asp">Artnet magazine</a>:</p><p>When London's Tory mayor Boris Johnson tried to appoint Veronica Wadley as chair of the Arts Council London last year, he ran into a storm of complaints, and accusations that he was engaging in cronyism. Wadley has little direct arts experience, though she was editor the Evening Standard, a paper that just happened to back Johnson's campaign for mayor. Instead of calling off the appointment, however, Johnson decided to bide his time until a Conservative government was in office. Yesterday, the London mayor's office announced that Wadley had been approved as new head of the Arts Council.</p><p>The first time around, Wadley couldn't get past the three-person panel vetting candidates. Then, Johnson attempted to convene a new selection committee, with himself sitting as chair. When that idea was rejected, a five-person panel was formed, including Johnson's culture adviser Munira Mirza. That group unanimously recommended Wadley for the post, and freshly appointed Tory culture secretary Jeremy Hunt rubber-stamped the decision.</p><p>Most public appointments are partisan. Blair-Brown inserted trusted cronies into every cranny of the arts, not least the present chair and chief executive (notionally a non-political post) of Arts Council England...So why the fuss about Wadley? Because she's a Tory and you don't like them?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/25/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-cronyism-row-international-audience">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonVeronica WadleyLondonLondon politicsArts fundingFri, 25 Jun 2010 15:48:08 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/25/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-cronyism-row-international-audienceDave Hill2010-06-25T15:48:08ZBoris Johnson and Veronica Wadley: Victoria Sharp and the Mayor's Fundhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/18/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-london-arts-council-victoria-sharp
<p>The connection between Victoria Sharp - one of the three "independent" panellists who interviewed Boris Johnson supporter Veronica Wadley for the Arts Council in London job she <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/jun/10/veronica-wadley-arts-council">controversially secured</a> - and Boris Johnson's mayoralty is even larger than <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/14/boris-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-victoria-sharp">I reported earlier this week</a>. </p><p>It was easy to discover that Sharp is on the "steering board" of Boris's music education programme and that five days after the Arts Council interviews took place Boris visited a Lambeth primary school in support of a project run by London Music Masters, a charity set up by Sharp and her ex-banker husband Richard. </p><p>We believe that all appointments should be based on merit, and not on personal patronage. Our administration will seek to recruit the right people for London who have the experience and the skills to deliver our agenda for change.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/18/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-london-arts-council-victoria-sharp">Continue reading...</a>PoliticsBoris JohnsonLondonLondon politicsVeronica WadleyFri, 18 Jun 2010 09:33:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/18/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-london-arts-council-victoria-sharpDave Hill2010-06-18T09:33:09ZBoris Johnson and Veronica Wadley: what makes an interview panellist 'indpendent'?https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/14/boris-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-victoria-sharp
<p>Among the panellists who conducted the interviews in the recent re-run process to fill the post of Arts Council England's London representative and regional chair was a woman called Victoria Sharp. The <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/veronica-wadley-be-london-chair-arts-council-england">press release</a> issued by Boris Johnson's office announcing that his erstwhile media ally, the former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley, had been given the job at the second attempt, did not reveal this fact or indeed the identities of any of the other panellists. City Hall did release the information to some people though. The Standard <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23843495-ex-editor-defies-critics-to-land-top-job-in-arts.do">listed most of the panellists </a> including Sharp, describing her as "a philanthropist."</p><p>This is perfectly true. Sharp is the <a href="http://www.londonmusicmasters.org/victoria-sharp/">chairman, chief executive</a> and founder with her husband Richard Sharp of a charity called London Music Masters which, <a href="http://www.londonmusicmasters.org/about/">in its own words</a>:</p><p>aims to address the challenges facing talented young violinists and to remove barriers for potential musicians from diverse backgrounds.</p><p>Richard is a former Goldman Sachs star who retired two years ago with a fortune of about £500m.</p><p>The Daily Telegraph can disclose that Mr Johnson has also managed to persuade other leading figures from business and charity to help run the fund. Sir Trevor, the former chairman of the RAC, will be joined by Richard Sharp, a retired Goldman Sachs banker...</p><p>Well, the big day we have all been working towards finally arrived and the children from <a href="http://www.lgfl.net/lgfl/leas/lambeth/schools/jessop/">Jessop [school]</a>...finally got the chance to perform for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. This visit, which took place on Monday 7 June, was hugely significant for the pupils and their teachers. It gave the Bridge Project an enormous publicity boost.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/14/boris-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-victoria-sharp">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonVeronica WadleyLondonLondon politicsPoliticsArts fundingMon, 14 Jun 2010 16:18:24 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/14/boris-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-victoria-sharpDave Hill2010-06-14T16:18:24ZVeronica Wadley affair: gush, denial and gritted teethhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/11/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-appointment
<p>The most jaw-dropped aspect of the amazing Wadley saga has been the sheer brazenness involved. Imagine: the majority of an interview panel think you fall short of the mark for the job you've applied for, yet somehow you get picked for that job anyway thanks a powerful person you've helped out in the past. Most of us would feel embarrassed by such a situation. Not all of us, though. Here's a passage from a piece in yesterday's <a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23843505-the-ex-editor-the-former-minister-boris-and-an-arts-world-storm.do">London Evening Standard</a> (formerly the Evening Boris):</p><p>"I knew I was the best candidate then, as I know I am now," she says with force as we meet at the Royal Society of Arts just south of the Strand. Before I arrive, she has sent the Evening Standard photographer packing, insisting on sending her own approved photograph. Boris's closest aide breezes in to make sure the interview is going on track. Veronica Wadley is a woman who believes in disciplined self-management. She is also convinced she has always been the right person for this job. "I have broad experience, and though I am no arts expert, I have a wide-ranging knowledge of the arts. It was a ploy by that minister (she can hardly bring herself to name Bradshaw). It was pure political chicanery."</p><p>I am delighted that Veronica Wadley is to be Chair of the London Arts Council. This is a brilliant decision for London in this challenging climate. Veronica has long been a passionate advocate for the arts, and she will work tirelessly to promote the quality and diversity of culture in London. She has excellent relations with Government, local government and business, which I am confident she will use to promote the arts.</p><p>The café is packed before and after the performance, a model of a small local theatre that works every inch of its space. Subsidy junkies take note. </p><p>As editor of the Standard, Veronica Wadley was a fierce advocate for the London theatre. She has remained passionately committed to the arts. She is enthusiastic, perspicacious and informed, and I look forward to working with her.</p><p>Veronica's appointment means that our London and National Councils are finally at full strength, which is excellent news. We can now get on with the important job of supporting and developing the arts in London and the rest of the country. I am confident that Veronica's skills and commitment will help us address the many challenges and opportunities ahead as we move towards a tough Spending Review.</p><p>Veronica has got no more ability to do that job than I have. It's a pure payback for the way she used the resources of the Evening Standard to back Boris at the last election. She should be going to prison, not the arts board.</p><p>Last year, [Wadley's] candidacy was shot down by the national Arts Council chair, Liz Forgan, on the spurious grounds that she had no arts cred. Forgan's personal and political prejudice against Wadley was backed by the Labour Culture Secretary, Ben Bradshaw.</p><p>I will end the culture of cronyism at City Hall.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/11/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-appointment">Continue reading...</a>PoliticsBoris JohnsonKen LivingstoneLondonLondon politicsArts fundingVeronica WadleyArts Council EnglandFri, 11 Jun 2010 10:17:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/11/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-appointmentDave Hill2010-06-11T10:17:12ZVeronica Wadley affair: she's "got the job"https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/10/boris-johns-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-daily-telegraph
<p>From the Boris-friendly <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7814941/Alexandra-Burke-is-bowled-over-by-hot-cricketer-Michael-Clarke.html">Daily Telegraph</a>:</p><p>Veronica Wadley, the former newspaper editor that Boris Johnson wanted as the new chairman of the Arts Council London, has got the job. Mandrake expects an official announcement as early as tomorrow.</p><p>If true, this will confirm every suspicion about how the appointment has been handled. They re-started it, independent advice was ignored, candidates over-looked and an important position left vacant all so the Mayor could fix it for one of his cronies to get the job. It stinks, it's dishonourable, but it's nothing less than we expected.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/10/boris-johns-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-daily-telegraph">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonLondonVeronica WadleyLondon politicsArts fundingDaily TelegraphThu, 10 Jun 2010 10:14:35 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/10/boris-johns-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-daily-telegraphDave Hill2010-06-10T10:14:35ZBoris Johnson and the Veronica Wadley affair: an open letter to David Cameron and Nick Clegghttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/09/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-open-letter-david-cameron-nick-clegg
<p>Dear Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,</p><p>When you gave your historic joint press conference in the Downing Street garden you pledged to clean up politics and build a new kind. Both of you had previously spoken many times of the need to restore public confidence in how politics is conducted. It is because of these commitments that I draw your attention to a matter concerning David's fellow Conservative and old school and university friend Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.</p><p>A new recruitment process has been agreed by everyone involved and we look forward to seeing the result.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/09/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-open-letter-david-cameron-nick-clegg">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonDavid CameronVeronica WadleyLondonPoliticsLondon politicsNick CleggWed, 09 Jun 2010 13:54:59 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jun/09/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-open-letter-david-cameron-nick-cleggDave Hill2010-06-09T13:54:59ZVeronica Wadley affair: Jeremy Hunt ducks the issueshttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/apr/26/boris-johnson-veronica-wadely-jeremy-hunt-ducks-issues
<p>I've given up asking City Hall about developments in Boris Johnson's re-run procedure for nominating a London Arts Council chair. You'll recall that after culture secretary Ben Bradshaw blocked his nomination of his erstwhile <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/03/localgovernment.london08">fervent media supporter</a> Veronica Wadley for the job, the Mayor used the dubious excuse of "exceptional circumstances" for announcing a re-run. The City Hall press office ignores my emails on this subject and when I ask anyone about it they either protest their ignorance or say an announcement will be made when it suits them. Not playing for time or anything are we?</p><p>However, I have two bits of news about the re-run obtained from other sources. One is that in the two months - yes, two months - that have elapsed since <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/08/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-bed-bradshaw-retreat-over-interview-process">bowing to the DCMS's requirement</a> that he appoint a five-person panel - excluding himself - to conduct initial interviews, Boris has come up with precisely no suggestions for filling three empty seats with "credible and independent" judges. The other is that shadow culture secretary <a href="http://www.jeremyhunt.org/">Jeremy Hunt</a> continues to pretend that Boris's conduct gives no cause for concern or condemnation on his part.</p><p>A new recruitment process has been agreed by everyone involved and we look forward to seeing the result.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/apr/26/boris-johnson-veronica-wadely-jeremy-hunt-ducks-issues">Continue reading...</a>LondonGeneral election 2010London politicsBoris JohnsonArts fundingJeremy HuntVeronica WadleyMon, 26 Apr 2010 11:24:47 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/apr/26/boris-johnson-veronica-wadely-jeremy-hunt-ducks-issuesDave Hill2010-04-26T11:24:47ZBoris Johnson and the London Development Agencyhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/29/boris-johnson-london-development-agency-regeneration-renewal
<p>For <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/kenlivingstone">Ken</a>-haters, a lesson in perspective from Regeneration and Renewal:</p><p>Johnson's audit panel and a subsequent independent report by law firm DLA Piper failed to find evidence of the corruption that had repeatedly been alleged by the Evening Standard in the run-up to the mayoral election. However, they did depict an organisation that was lacking in direction and frequently failed to keep records or properly evaluate projects.</p><p>The agency has cut its workforce by around a third and has begun to focus on fewer, bigger projects that attempt to connect physical development with social infrastructure and business support. The LDA has also moved away from running projects itself to commissioning London boroughs, the private sector and charities to do so on its behalf. While it is still the principal landowner at the Olympic site, the main responsibility for delivering legacy initiatives has now been devolved to the Olympic Park Legacy Company.</p><p>The London Development Agency plans to invest almost £3 million improving public space in and around Rainham village. The investments will improve public access to the open spaces around the village, joining up the Ingrebourne Valley to the north with Rainham Marshes and the River Thames through the unique character of the village.</p><p>The LDA and Design for London will work with the London Borough of Havering on the improvements. Footpaths and pavements in the village will be widened, new road crossings added and new street furniture such as benches installed. The improvements will create a more pleasant environment with less clutter, particularly around the listed Norman church, Rainham Hall, and war memorial. This will help to revitalise and strengthen the town centre and encourage walking and cycling.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/29/boris-johnson-london-development-agency-regeneration-renewal">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonLondonLondon politicsVeronica WadleyKen LivingstoneMon, 29 Mar 2010 06:55:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/29/boris-johnson-london-development-agency-regeneration-renewalDave Hill2010-03-29T06:55:00ZVeronica Wadley: journalism and freedomhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/18/london-evening-standard-veronica-wadley-conservative-home-cheerleader-boris-johnson
<p>Shock news:</p><p>Since former KGB officer Lebedev became owner of the London Evening Standard the newspaper has stopped being the cheerleader for Boris Johnson that it was when Veronica Wadley was its editor. Journalists are given more freedom under Geordie Greig's more laissez-faire editorship.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/18/london-evening-standard-veronica-wadley-conservative-home-cheerleader-boris-johnson">Continue reading...</a>LondonLondon politicsLondon Evening StandardVeronica WadleyThu, 18 Mar 2010 09:17:21 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/18/london-evening-standard-veronica-wadley-conservative-home-cheerleader-boris-johnsonDave Hill2010-03-18T09:17:21ZVeronica Wadley affair: Boris retreatshttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/08/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-bed-bradshaw-retreat-over-interview-process
<p>Boris Johnson has revised his arrangements for nominating the next chair of Arts Council England in London after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport made clear it wouldn't appoint any candidate he recommended for the post if the panel conducting their initial interviews included Boris himself.</p><p>The Mayor had proposed that he chair a panel of three people to conduct a re-run of a process that had previously foundered because culture secretary Ben Bradshaw <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6865287.ece">vetoed his nomination</a> of former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley on the grounds that <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1537461.stm">Nolan Rules</a> ensuring transparency and fairness in public appointments had been breached.</p><p>Boris promised to end cronyism but his attempts to create interview panels to suit his needs reveal someone who plays by different rules to the rest of us and is more concerned with looking after his friends. The Mayor should commit to complete this appointment before the general election to give the few remaining candidates a fair chance.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/08/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-bed-bradshaw-retreat-over-interview-process">Continue reading...</a>Veronica WadleyBoris JohnsonLondonLondon politicsArts fundingConservativesGeneral election 2010PoliticsTue, 09 Mar 2010 12:20:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/mar/08/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-bed-bradshaw-retreat-over-interview-processDave Hill2010-03-09T12:20:00ZVeronica Wadley: wide of the markhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/feb/15/veronica-wadley-slackbelly-blog-boris-johnson-pheasant-shoot
<p>I've no idea if the final sentence is true, but I enjoyed it anyway. Pull trigger <a href="http://slackbelly.blogspot.com/2010/02/shooting-messenger.html">here</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/feb/15/veronica-wadley-slackbelly-blog-boris-johnson-pheasant-shoot">Continue reading...</a>Veronica WadleyLondonLondon politicsBoris JohnsonMon, 15 Feb 2010 21:03:32 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/feb/15/veronica-wadley-slackbelly-blog-boris-johnson-pheasant-shootDave Hill2010-02-15T21:03:32ZArts Council proposes Sir Brian McMaster for London chair interview panelhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/feb/10/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-sir-brian-mcmaster-arts-council-london
<p>We're nearly two weeks past the deadline for <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/jobs/20100129/index.jsp">applications</a> to represent London on the Arts Council England and chair its London region. Around three weeks have elapsed since the Labour group <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/22/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-labour-complaint">made known it would complain</a> - quite rightly, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/20/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-arts-council-london">in my view</a> - about the make-up of the interview panel for the re-run of a process whose outcome was quite correctly <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/27/bradshaw-cameron-boris-arts-council">vetoed</a> by the culture secretary last time round on the grounds that <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1537461.stm">Nolan Rules</a> ensuring fairness and transparency had not been followed. </p><p>Since then, nobody has made a public utterance. The Mayor's press office won't even tell me how many applications it has received. I know that Veronica Herself is one - you'll recall Boris' friend and erstwhile <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/03/localgovernment.london08">fervent media supporter</a> expressing such striking confidence about her prospects in a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2009/dec/15/veronica-wadley-spectator-article-avoids-key-issues-over-arts-council-appointment">Spectator diary column</a>. I can confirm that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/13/veronica-wadley-competition-london-banker-arts-council-post">Kleinwort Benson chief executive</a> and Whitechapel Gallery trustee Robert Taylor has applied. That's two. Unless City Hall has numeracy issues even more severe than those I hear were alleged during this morning's budget plenary, I'd say they don't want me to know if the total has reached three or more. Oh come on! Where's the harm?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/feb/10/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-sir-brian-mcmaster-arts-council-london">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonVeronica WadleyLondonLondon politicsArts fundingWed, 10 Feb 2010 16:04:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/feb/10/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-sir-brian-mcmaster-arts-council-londonDave Hill2010-02-10T16:04:14ZBoris Johnson defence in Veronica Wadley affair is flawedhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/11/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-flawed-defence
<p>Today is the last day for very optimistic people to <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/jobs/20100129/index.jsp">apply for the job</a> of chairing the London region of the Arts Council England and representing the capital at national level. Regular readers with outstanding stamina will be aware that for some weeks I have been <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2009/dec/02/veronica-wadley-correspondence-file-grows-larger-and-more-revealing">sifting through great mounds of correspondence</a> seeking insights into last year's previous attempt to fill the position, which failed when culture secretary Ben Bradshaw <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/oct/27/bradshaw-cameron-boris-arts-council">vetoed Mayor Johnson's nomination</a> of his friend and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/03/localgovernment.london08">media champion</a> Veronica Wadley on the grounds that Nolan Rules against cronyism had been breached. </p><p>Was Bradshaw correct? To recap, two of the three people who presided at the initial interviews - ACE (and <a href="http://www.gmgannualreview2009.co.uk/page30#zoom80">Scott Trust</a>) chair Liz Forgan and independent observer Sir David Durie were most unhappy about what went on. Both have said that Wadley gave a markedly less impressive interview than three other candidates and that after much discussion it was eventually agreed that Wadley would not go forward to a second and final interview with the Mayor. One of the three people - the Mayor's culture adviser Munira Mirza - has spoken more highly of Wadley's performance and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/13/veronica-wadley-munira-mirza-boris-johnson-arts-council-london">given a very different account</a> of how the post-interview meeting was resolved. Wadley, of course, did go forward and became the Mayor's nominee.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/11/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-flawed-defence">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonVeronica WadleyLondonFri, 29 Jan 2010 13:11:54 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/11/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-flawed-defenceDave Hill2010-01-29T13:11:54ZLabour to complain over latest ACE London panelhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/22/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-labour-complaint
<p>From the Standard:</p><p>Boris Johnson today faced an official complaint about his bid to give an ally one of London's top arts jobs. Labour Assembly members claim the appointment process has been "stitched up" to guarantee that former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley is appointed chair of the Arts Council in London.</p><p><br>The interview panel is to include the Mayor, a member of the national Arts Council, and City Hall deputy chief executive Jeff Jacobs, who has been closely associated with Mr Johnson's efforts to secure Ms Wadley the job. Labour chiefs are threatening to refer the issue unless Mr Johnson changes the make-up of his panel. </p><p>It was unclear who they would refer the matter to as any initial complaint would have to be presented to monitoring officer, Mr Jacobs.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/22/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-labour-complaint">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonVeronica WadleyLondonLondon politicsArts fundingFri, 22 Jan 2010 11:52:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/22/boris-johnson-veronica-wadley-arts-council-london-labour-complaintDave Hill2010-01-22T11:52:00ZLondon Arts Council re-run rules emergehttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/20/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-arts-council-london
<p>Asked by London Assembly ECDST committee chair Dee Doocey to explain how the re-run procedure for nominating a new chair of the Arts Council in London would work, GLA chief executive Leo Boland <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2009/dec/17/gla-officers-carefully-considering-london-arts-council-post-appointment-process">replied</a> that: </p><p>Fuller details will be published for candidates in good time.</p><p>The interview panel will comprise the Mayor (chair), an Arts Council representative, Jeff Jacobs (Executive Director of Communities &amp; Intelligence at the GLA), and an independent element (non-voting)</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/20/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-arts-council-london">Continue reading...</a>Boris JohnsonVeronica WadleyLondonLondon politicsArts fundingArts Council EnglandThu, 21 Jan 2010 11:41:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/20/veronica-wadley-boris-johnson-arts-council-londonDave Hill2010-01-21T11:41:14ZVeronica Wadley: Munira Mirza has augmented her accounthttps://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/13/veronica-wadley-munira-mirza-boris-johnson-arts-council-london
<p>On 6 July last year, Arts Council England chair Liz Forgan wrote a letter (<a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/edcst/2010/jan12/item04e.pdf">pages 15 and 16</a>) to Mayor Johnson. In it she expressed her dismay that one of the three candidates for the chair of the organisation's London region she thought up to the job had been dumped to make way for Wadley, the Mayor's friend and erstwhile fervent media supporter. But according to Munira Mirza, Boris's culture adviser, this isn't how it was at all.</p><p>On October 21 she attended the Assembly's Economic Development Culture Sport and Tourism committee (EDCST) and spoke about "a disagreement" following the interviews for the ACE London job. She and Forgan had both presided at these interviews, along with standards board member Sir David Durie who provided the independent oversight. <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/edcst/2009/oct21/minutes/transcript.pdf">Mirza said</a>:</p><p>The disagreement was about how many candidates he [the Mayor] should see and who he should see. I felt that it was important, because this was a Mayoral appointment, that he should see all four candidates and make the decision himself based on the fact that there was a disagreement.</p><p>Dame Liz Forgan believed that three of the candidates should go forward and [I] believed that a fourth candidate should also be seen by the Mayor. As a compromise and to ensure that all views were respected, I proposed putting forward four candidates for the Mayor to meet but that was not acceptable to Dame Liz Forgan and the independent element in the process, Sir David Durie. They would not accept the Mayor meeting with Veronica Wadley at all. <br> <br>We had reached an impasse so I agreed with Liz and David that if the Mayor were content to only see candidates they both approved of, we would put forward their preferred three candidates, but I also explained that this was subject to further discussion with the Mayor. </p><p>We are going to ask 3 short listed candidates to meet with the Mayor. They are Veronica Wadley [other two names redacted]</p><p>In conversations immediately following the interviews on 1 July, Liz Forgan and David Durie both stated they were content for their third choice candidate (who was not Veronica Wadley) not to be seen by the Mayor.</p><p>In my conversation with Liz Forgan on 2 July [the day following the initial interviews] I stressed I was willing not to exclude anyone's choice. I therefore stated that all four candidates could be seen by the Mayor so as to keep all parties happy.</p><p>Liz Forgan remained of the view that her third choice candidate did not need to be seen by the Mayor, as her primary concern was that he should not see Veronica Wadley. As a result I was of the view that three rather than four candidates should be seen by the Mayor. <br> <br>On this basis I sent an e-mail to a junior colleague on 6 July asking for three candidates to be seen by the Mayor – Veronica Wadley and Liz Forgan's and David Durie's first and second choice candidates (but not their third choice candidate given their previous remarks).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/13/veronica-wadley-munira-mirza-boris-johnson-arts-council-london">Continue reading...</a>LondonLondon politicsVeronica WadleyBoris JohnsonArts fundingTue, 19 Jan 2010 15:59:49 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/davehillblog/2010/jan/13/veronica-wadley-munira-mirza-boris-johnson-arts-council-londonDave Hill2010-01-19T15:59:49Z